Patents by Inventor Piercarlo MERLANO

Piercarlo MERLANO has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11079327
    Abstract: An optical sensor has a body including a transparent interface wall having an outer surface in contact with a liquid, to define therewith a reflection interface. An optical module is coupled at an inner surface of the interface wall, to detect a characteristic of the liquid substance via light reflection. The optical module includes a light emitter and a light receiver facing respective inclined surfaces of the interface wall. The optical module also includes a supporting structure which is elastically flexible, to enable the light emitter and the light receiver of the optical module to vary a relative position thereof and with respect to the inclined surfaces of the interface wall, when the supporting structure is secured to the inner surface of the interface wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: ELTEK S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Pizzi, Piercarlo Merlano, Fabio Cavalli, Mauro Zorzetto
  • Patent number: 10906390
    Abstract: Component of tank of liquid additive of system for treating exhaust gases of internal combustion engine, has body positioned in fluid-tight way at opening of the tank and incorporates plurality of functional devices for managing liquid additive to be delivered to treatment system. Body of tank component is moulded using plastic material chemically resistant to liquid additive and is provided with at least one passageway for liquid additive. The plurality of functional devices comprises pump and pressure sensor having pressure-sensitive element. Passageway comprises delivery path for the liquid additive, which is defined at least in part in first wall of body of tank component and has inlet end configured for connection to delivery duct of the pump. Defined at outer side of first wall is at least one seat for positioning at least one part of pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ELTEK S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alberto Barbano, Marco Bizzarro, Mauro Zorzetto, Costanzo Gadini, Marco Pizzi, Piercarlo Merlano
  • Publication number: 20200240914
    Abstract: An optical sensor device for detection of a characteristic of a liquid substance comprises a device body having an inner surface and an outer surface, one portion of the outer surface of the device body being designed to be in contact with the liquid substance, and the inner surface of the device body being designed to be isolated from the liquid substance. Associated to the device body is a detection arrangement, which comprises an emitter and a receiver of a given optical radiation. A first portion of the device body is made of a material designed for propagation of the given optical radiation, the emitter and the receiver being optically coupled to the inner surface of the device body in the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Marco PIZZI, Piercarlo MERLANO, Fabio CAVALLI, Mauro ZORZETTO
  • Patent number: 10677725
    Abstract: A sensor device for a container of a liquid substance comprises a body with a housing portion having a closing structure, the body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The housing portion is pre-arranged for assembly on the container, in such a way that a portion of the outer surface of the body faces the inside of the container to be in contact with the liquid substance, and the inner surface of the body is isolated from the inside of the container. Associated to the body is a first arrangement for detection of the level of the substance. Associated to the body of the device is a second arrangement for detection of a characteristic of the liquid substance, which comprises an emitter and a receiver of a given optical radiation. A first portion of the body of the device is made of a material designed for propagation of the given optical radiation, the emitter and the receiver being optically coupled to the inner surface of the body at the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: ELTEK S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Pizzi, Piercarlo Merlano, Fabio Cavalli, Mauro Zorzetto
  • Publication number: 20190056321
    Abstract: A sensor device for a container of a liquid substance comprises a body with a housing portion having a closing structure, the body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The housing portion is pre-arranged for assembly on the container, in such a way that a portion of the outer surface of the body faces the inside of the container to be in contact with the liquid substance, and the inner surface of the body is isolated from the inside of the container. Associated to the body is a first arrangement for detection of the level of the substance. Associated to the body of the device is a second arrangement for detection of a characteristic of the liquid substance, which comprises an emitter and a receiver of a given optical radiation. A first portion of the body of the device is made of a material designed for propagation of the given optical radiation, the emitter and the receiver being optically coupled to the inner surface of the body at the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Marco PIZZI, Piercarlo MERLANO, Fabio CAVALLI, Mauro ZORZETTO
  • Publication number: 20180319271
    Abstract: Component of tank of liquid additive of system for treating exhaust gases of internal combustion engine, has body positioned in fluid-tight way at opening of the tank and incorporates plurality of functional devices for managing liquid additive to be delivered to treatment system. Body of tank component is moulded using plastic material chemically resistant to liquid additive and is provided with at least one passageway for liquid additive. The plurality of functional devices comprises pump and pressure sensor having pressure-sensitive element. Passageway comprises delivery path for the liquid additive, which is defined at least in part in first wall of body of tank component and has inlet end configured for connection to delivery duct of the pump. Defined at outer side of first wall is at least one seat for positioning at least one part of pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Alberto BARBANO, Marco BIZZARRO, Mauro ZORZETTO, Costanzo GADINI, Marco PIZZI, Piercarlo MERLANO
  • Publication number: 20180272859
    Abstract: A heater device comprises a supporting body (5) and a plurality of heating elements in the supporting body (5). Each heating element includes a first electrode (14), a second electrode (15), and a material having a PTC effect (16) arranger at least in part between the two electrodes (14, 15). The first electrodes (14), respectively the second electrodes (15), are set at a distance apart in the supporting body (5), with the first electrodes (14) generally parallel to and facing the second electrodes (15). The first electrodes (14) are connected to a first common electrical conductor element (17), and the second electrodes (15) are connected to a second common electrical conductor element (18), and the material having a PTC effect (16) comprises a plastic-based or polymeric-based material moulded or overmoulded at least in part between facing surfaces of the first and second electrodes (14, 15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Alberto BARBANO, Marco BIZZARRO, Mauro ZORZETTO, Marco PIZZI, Piercarlo MERLANO